Container pouring spout inserting machine



May 7, 1968 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,381,545

CONTAINER POURING SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE/VTMGS: 1. .l. MIL ro/v H. ALAUSMA/Y/V l HENRVJ Beam 5e mmn/Ev May 7, 1968 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,381,645

CONTAINER POURING SPOUT INSERTINC' MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet a INVEIVZWRS. M/LTO/V H. K LAOS/1444M,

A Tm/F/VE V y 1968 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,381,645

CONTAINER POURING SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 WW W M 5065 U m K50 T An H .J N W m wm MHM May 7, 1968 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL 3,381,645

CONTAINER POURING SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEjl/ZWRS. M/UO/V H. KLAUSMA V V BY 44 M Ai'TORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M/ZTO/V H KLAUSMl-J/VN Arroeh/ir May 7, 1968 M. H. KLAUSMANN ETAL CONTAINER POURING SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1. 1966 United States Patent 3,381,645 CONTAINER POURING SPOUT INSERTING MACHINE Milton H. Klausmann and Henry J. Brucker, Summit, and

Anthony J. OLenick, Fairlawu, N.J., assignors to Sea]- Spout Corporation, Mountainside, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,028

8 Claims. (Cl. 113-1) This invention relates in general to machines of the type described in US. patents, No. 2,216,733, dated Oct. 8, 1940, No. 2,589,769, dated Mar. 18, 1952, and No. 3,025,813, dated Mar. 20, 1962, for attaching a pouring spout at a predetermined point or in a preconditioned portion of, for example, a wall of a cardboard container. More particularly the invention relates to the portion of such a machine that comprises the mechanism for forming the spout blanks and moving or conveying them to a given point or station where they may be inserted in containers.

In machines of this character, a strip of partially formed spouts or spout blanks is fed step-by-step to dies in which the spouts are completely formed and from which the completed spouts are moved by a ram and pushed through the wall of a container; and separate moving parts are employed for forming the spouts in the dies and for moving the ram to convey the spouts from the dies to the container. These separate movable parts also require separate driving devices and substantial masses of metal must be moved during the operation of the machine, which requires great expenditure of power as well as materials.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a spout formin and inserting machine which shall be relatively inexpensive to construct and to operate, which shall include a minimum number of simple parts and wherein the movable die and the ram are actuated simultaneously by one and the same driving device.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character wherein there shall be a minimum of weight or mass of metal to be moved or driven by the driving device.

A further object is to provide a housing or support which can be utilized for different dies and wherein the dies can be easily and quickly removed for repairs, replacement or interchange.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the portion of the machine viewed from the plane of the line 22 of FIGURE 1 immediately before attachment of the spout to the container as shown in FIGURE 3 and showing portions of the top plate and table removed for clearness in illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the plane of the line 33 of FIGURE 1 showing the dies and the ram in their respective spout-forming and spout-inserting positions;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the dies, the ram and the driving devices therefor, showing the movable die and ram in retracted position;

FIGURE 5- is a vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view on the plane of the line 66 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through the container and showing the ram and anvil in end elevation, viewing the parts from approximately the plane of the line 77 of FIGURE 1.

3,381,645 Patented May 7, 1968 Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention the reference character A generally designates the frame or housing of the machine having a top wall or table A and in which is removably mounted the spout farming and feeding unit B that is provided with a main plate B flush with the table top A. Mounted on top of the table is a combined container holder or guide C, and an anvil D. The main plate is shown as secured to and supported from the table by screws 43 passing through the table and screwed into extensions 44 on the frame bars R. The container holder C is shown as mounted at one end on a pedestal E and carries at its other end the anvil D the lower surface 1 of which is spaced from the top surface of the table so that a container or carton F can be slipped over the support C with one wall F thereof disposed between the surface 1 of the anvil and the top surface of the table.

Beneath and in alignment with the anvil is a rectangular opening G in the main support plate B and beneath the main support plate and in line with said opening is a fixed die H and a reciprocable ram I which, with the movable die I, is connected to and moved by a support block N that is reciprocable on guide posts 0 and actuated by rollers N on the support block that follow a cam P mounted on a drlve shaft Q that is journaled in the frame A. The guide posts 0 are secured in and depend from suspension bars R that are secured to and depend from the main plate B.

As shown, preferably the fixed die H is formed at one end of a plate S that also serves as a part of the spout blank strip feed mechanism generally designated L. As shown, the plate is secure-d to the underside of the main support plate by cap screws 2 and dowels 3 which serve to locate and hold the plate against lateral movement while the screws, are being inserted. Pivoted at one end of the plate S opposite the fixed die H on a pivot pin 4 is a stripper plate 5 that with the plate S provides a guideway 5 for the spout blank strip M and is normally biased away from the plate S and carries a leaf spring 6 which serves to yieldingly press the blank strip against the underside of the plate S and hold the strip against movement. Adjacent the end of the stripper plate opposite its pivot 'pin 4 is a plunger 7 slidably mounted in a guide recess 8 in the movable die block and normally influenced against the stripper plate by a compression spring 9 that is held in position by a guide rod 10 one end of which is connected to the plunger 7 while the other end is slidably mounted in the support block N.

During operation of the machine, a spout blank strip M is fed step-by-step from a suitable supply such as a reel T journaled on the frame A to the dies and the ram. This strip of spout blanks is shown as including a plurality of spout blanks M connected in end-to-end relation, each blank being shaped to provide the body portion a and side wings b of the finished spout Z. The strip of blanks is fed by a mechanism comprising a lever U pivoially mounted intermediate its ends at 11 on a bracket arm 12 that is connected by screws 13 to the frame bar R that is secured to and depends from the bottom of the main plate B. Pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever U on a common pivot pin 15 are a pair of feed dogs 16 the upper ends of which have inturned fingers 17 to engage behind the edges of the respective blanks of the blank strip M, the feed dogs being normally influenced into feeding relation to the blank strip by a tension spring 18 one end of which is connected to a pin 16' connecting the feed dogs while the other end is connected to a screw 19 secured in the lever U. Preferably an adjustable stop screw 20 is threaded into one of the dogs to abut another screw 21 coaxial with the screw 19 for limi ing movement of the feed dogs in one direction under the influence of the spring 18. The lever U is actuated by a feed cam V adjustable on the drive shaft Q and followed by a follower roller 22 journaled on the lever U. The roller 22 is normally held in contact with the cam by a spring 23 one end of which is connected to the screw 19 while its other end is connected to an arm 24 rigidly connected to the lever U.

The drive shaft Q is driven by an electric motor and speed reducing gear combination generally designated W that is coupled to the shaft by an electrically simulated one-revolution clutch X including a known type of switch mechanism Y which controls the energization and deenergization of the clutch in accordance with the rotation of the shaft.

During operation of the machine, the container F is slid onto the combined container holder and anvil, and the lever U is actuated by the cam V to reciprocate the feed dogs 16 and feed the blank strip M step-by-step so that at the end of each step a blank is brought onto position between the dies H and J for completing the formation of the spout, and a completed spout Z at the leading end of the strip is positioned between ram I and the anvil. While the spout blank is at rest, the cam P elevates the support block N to move the lower die I into coactive relation to the upper die H as shown in FIGURE 3 to complete the spout by bending the Wings 17 upwardly from the body portion a and by forming prongs c for fastening the spout to the container wall. The lower die is formed with a channel 28 which coacts with a forming block 29 on the upper die for producing the wings, and the prongs c are formed by punches 25, secured in the lower die, which pass loosely through openings 26 in the stripper plate and into die holes 27 in the upper die. The support block N is then lowered by the cam P so that the punches are withdrawn from the spout blank and the stripper plate which strips the spout from the punches, and the blank strips M are permitted to swing away from the upper die as shown in FIGURE 4.

Simultaneously with the formation of one spout, the ram I is elevated and the next preceding spout, that is, the spout at the leading end of the strip is severed from the strip between blade edges 30 and 31 that are carried by the ram and the upper die, respectively. After severance of th spout from the strip, the ram pushes the spout upwardly through a guide channel formed by the fixed die and the spaced apart end surfaces 40 of guide blocks 41 that are removably secured to and between the support bars R by screws 42. The ram forces the wings and prongs of the spout through the wall F of the container which is pressed against the anvil and usually pre-scored to facilitate the penetration of the wall by the wings, the face of the anvil preferably having depressions 32 to defiect and clinch the prongs. The anvil, of course, has grooves 33 to provide a clearance for the flanges as the latter penetrate the wall of the carton. After the spout has been inserted into and secured in the carton, the carton is withdrawn off the anvil and carried away from the machine in any suitable manner to any desired point.

It is desirable that means be provided for automatically starting the motor as the carton is applied to the anvil, and for this purpose, a microswitch generally designated 34 may be mounted on the main plate B to be engaged and actuated by the leading end of the carton as the carton is slipped onto the anvil (see FIGURE 1) so as to cause energization of the circuit that starts the motor.

For simplicity of construction of the parts, the lower die is shown as secured to the support block N by cap screws 35, and the ram is fastened to the die block by cap screws 36.

For the purpose of adjusting the point at which the completed spout is severed from the blank strip, the cam V preferably is longitudinally slidably mounted on the shaft Q so that its cam surface may be adjusted relative to the follower roller 22 on the lever U. As shown, the cam has a longitudinal slot .37 through which passes a cap set screw 38 which is screwed into the shaft, the screw normally holding the cam rigidly on the shaft but permitting the cam to he slid longitudinally of the shaft upon loosening of the screw so that the portions of the spout blank strip may be changed with respect to the cutting edges 30 and 31 and the feed dogs can be properly positioned with respect to the blank strip.

With this construction it will be seen that the spout feeding mechanism, the two dies, ram and the support block, mounted on the main plate B constitute a unit all parts of which can be handled and transported at one time for placement in the frame or other suitable support. The individual parts are simple and can be easily assembled and disassembled, which is particularly advantageous in the interchanging or substitution of different dies for differently shaped spouts, etc. The driving device is simple and reliable, both the movable die I and the ram I being actuated by one and the same cam P through the common support block N.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and changes in the details of construction of the machine may be made within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a main support plate having a guideway for a strip of flat blanks for spouts, means for feeding said stripthrough said guideway step-by-step, a die block fixed on said support at one side of said guideway and said strip, a complemental die block and a support block therefor carried by said main support plate at the other side of said guideway to reciprocate to and from said fixed die, said die blocks being formed to simultaneously bend the blank to form a body portion and side wings for a spout and to punch said body portion at the end of one step of movement of the strip upon movement of said reciprocable die toward the fixed die block, means for reciprocating said support block in timed relation to the step-by-step feeding of said strip, a guide channel into which a completed spout is inserted at each step of movement, and means including a ram mounted on and movable with said support block and operative upon movement of said support block, said movable die block and said ram toward said fixed die block to sever said completed spout from the strip in said channel and to convey the spout in said channel to a predetermined point.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide channel comprises the side face of said fixed die and two guide blocks removably carried by said main support plate, one at each side of said fixed die with its end face spaced from the end face of the other guide block and extending beyond said side face of the fixed die.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 with the addition of a frame having a table provided with an opening, and wherein said main support plate is disposed in said open ing and removably secured to said table.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the feed mechanism for the blank strip includes a lever pivotally secured intermediate its ends and projecting from said main support plate and having feed dogs at one end to engage the spout blanks in said guideway, a drive shaft journaled on said frame and having a cam thereon coactive with the other end of said lever to oscillate the lever.

5. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the side face of said fixed die and the leading end of said ram have coactive cutting edges to sever the completed spout from the strip.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cam has an end cam surface and is adjustable longitudinally of said shaft to adjust the position of said feed dogs relative to the blank strip.

7. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for actuating said support block comprises a rotatable drive shaft having a cam thereon, and a pair of cam 5 follower rollers journaled on said support block and engaging said cam at diametrically opposite points.

8. A machine as defined in claim 3 with the addition of a container holder mounted on said table and having an anvil above and in line with said guide channel to support a wall of a container at the side thereof opposite said ram as the Wings of a spout are forced by the ram through said container wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD J. HERBST, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A MAIN SUPPORT PLATE HAVING A GUIDEWAY FOR A STRIP OF FLAT BLANKS FOR SPOUTS, MEANS FOR FEEDING SAID STRIP THROUGH SAID GUIDEWAY STEP-BY-STEP, A DIE BLOCK FIXED ON SAID SUPPORT AT ONE SIDE OF SAID GUIDEWAY AND SAID STRIP, A COMPLEMENTAL DIE BLOCK AND A SUPPORT BLOCK THEREFOR CARRIED BY SAID MAIN SUPPORT PLATE AT THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID GUIDEWAY TO RECIPROCATE TO AND FROM SAID FIXED DIE, SAID DIE BLOCKS BEING FORMED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY BEND THE BLANK TO FORM A BODY PORTION AND SIDE WINGS FOR A SPOUT AND TO PUNCH SAID BODY PORTION AT THE END OF ONE STEP OF MOVEMENT OF THE STRIP UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID RECIPROCABLE DIE TOWARD THE FIXED DIE BLOCK, MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING SAID SUPPORT BLOCK IN TIMED RELATION TO THE STEP-BY-STEP FEEDING OF SAID STRIP, A GUIDE CHANNEL INTO WHICH A COMPLETED SPOUT IS INSERTED AT EACH STEP OF MOVEMENT, AND MEANS INCLUDING A RAM MOUNTED ON AND MOVABLE WITH SAID SUPPORT BLOCK AND OPERATIVE UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT BLOCK, SAID MOVABLE DIE BLOCK AND SAID RAM TOWARD SAID FIXED DIE BLOCK TO SEVER SAID COMPLETED SPOUT FROM THE STRIP IN SAID 